White house Ruins ~ Canyon de Chelly

The White House Ruins in Canyon de Chelly are aptly named for the whitish portion of the ruins.

The well-preserved structures are viewed from close up by hiking down White House Trail, the only public trail in the canyon. 

The first day of November, 2011, offered a charming opportunity for a stroll down to see the ruins.

What a lovely day to enjoy. The weather is perfect.

The ruins are of a complex, multi-room, multi-purpose habitation, likely housing several families at one time about 1200 years ago.

Paintings on the cliff face look as if they were more recently applied than beyond the past millenium.

Rising cliffs against the deep blue autumn sky are a dramatic backdrop to brilliant cottonwood leaves.

Autumn's coloration is perennially energizing and refreshing.

Dizzying cliffs, towering into the sky, dwarf the ruins below.

Back at the top, we admire the silvery winding snail trail of water gleaming its way through the wash's bottom.

How tiny the ruins look from above.

(See this link for a run down the trail:)

Let's Run Down the Canyon

You may click to enlarge the above photos.

"Let's Run Down the Canyon"

A run down - and back up - White House Trail in Canyon de Chelly is a refreshing break from our usual gym workouts, especially when the weather lures us outdoors. A tunnel at the top of the trail welcomes us.

We are eager for the run

The White House Trail is a three mile round trip from the canyon rim down the switchbacks to the wash and a view of the ruins.

The canyon is always delightfully inviting

The trail is kept fairly smooth and is suitable for running. In some places the trail is hewn from the canyon wall.

Locals in training run down and up 2 or 3 times. Once is usually enough for us. 

Another tunnel near the bottom

On the way back up.

Going up is a little more trying than the coast down.

Back at the top


It's always a pleasure to take a workout day to run down White House Trail in Canyon de Chelly.

You may click to enlarge the above photos

For a glimpse of the ruins, click the link below:

White House Ruins ~ Canyon de Chelly